what is ip camera?

 

An IP camera is a digital video camera that can transmit live footage over the internet. The cameras are most often used by businesses, organizations, or homes to remotely view and capture footage in real-time.

When you purchase any type of network attached storage device for your home or business needs, it will come with one built-in free IP alias on the unit. Many homes use these devices as a way to remotely monitor and record activity inside their residences when they are not present at home; such remote access via the built-in IP alias is also called "over the internet". These devices are commonly found in the form of a digital video camera.

Screenshots of the IP alias functionality (light blue text):

Many IP cameras use the NVR software that comes on their boxes to manage and view their footage from remote locations over the internet. This is called a "network video recorder" or "NVR". NVR software can provide hard drive storage, support logging and playback capabilities, record-at-once events or just stream live footage from your camera over the internet. The software allows one to link access to multiple IP cameras throughout your network, along with other network attached storage devices like computers, routers, and network attached storage drives which are capable of storing video files on them.

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Some camera manufacturers have made the NVR software available to download online. This allows a user to set up their camera over the internet without having to use NVR software that comes on the camera box. This is useful if one wishes to view or record footage from their IP cameras using different NVR software or if they do not wish to use the NVR included with the cameras.

These IP cameras are used by many businesses and homes across North America (USA & Canada). They are commonly located in a business's lobby and common areas like hallways or elevators, because they provide added security and surveillance for both employees and customers.

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Video surveillance cameras are commonly used in most large businesses to monitor the common areas and main entrances. These cameras are often setup in large open spaces like lobbies, car parks, and even stairwells. They are useful in a variety of ways, including monitor the general activity inside a building, watch for troublemakers or bad guys trying to break into a building or even watch for unattended packages that may be left on an employee's desk.

And they are even useful when keeping an eye on children while they are playing outside. A security camera on a child's street is a great way to watch over them and make sure they are safe. It can give an added peace of mind when they are in environments that are unfamiliar. It is also a legal requirement in some Canadian provinces to install security cameras outdoors if children will be playing there unsupervised. For example, the city of Calgary in Alberta has implemented a bylaw stating that all homes built after 2005 must have security cameras installed outside.

Another common use is for homeowners who wish to check in on their pets when they are not at home or have a game cam set up in their yard.